Amusement device.



C. W. COFFIN.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-19,1917- 1,262,579, Patented A pl. 9, 1918.

Z W/Wm%%% x wh entrain snares en rant radon CHARLES W. COFFIN, GF PORTLAND, MAINE.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 9,1918.

Application filed February 19, 1917. Serial No. 149,427.

This invention relates to amusement devices or games in the nature of miniature or parlor, bowling alleys or the like. In particular the lnventlon has to do wlth'.

miniature bowling alleys and the like wherein a resilient or elastic transverse bufier or impinging member is provided against which the ball is caused to impinge so asto rebound back across the alley to the pins at the other end thereof. A prime object of the invention 1S to supply a device of this.

character equipped with an improved form of resilient, ball rebounding element at one end thereof, of a type adapted to provide for a rebounding of the ball within the required range, accurately and with precision, so that when the ball is properly directed thereagainst, it may be made to rebound in a definite direction to reach a pin or pins at any particular location. A further object is to provide a device of this kind that has a specially formed ball rebounding element of a nature to require some little skill to insure the rebounding of the ball in a.

definite manner, and that is directly and closely responsive, to a large extent, on the skill of the player. The foregoing and other objects and features of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and will thereafter be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view on a somewhat larger scale.

Fig. 3 is a central lengthwise section on line 33.

Fig. 4c is a transverse section of line 4-4: of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the ball guiding device shown in Fi 1, and;

Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the preferred form of rebounding element.

The base 10, preferably of oblong rectangular form has the long and relatively narrow plane surface or alley 11, on the top thereof, with gutters 12 at each side leading to a pit 13, formed in the base in the forward end of the alley. Side and end rails.

14, 15, respectively, are supported by posts 16 upstanding from the corners and intermediate portions of the base, these rails be- 7 ing spaced apart and from the base vertically so as to constitute a guard or fence around the alley. At its forward end the alley 11 may be provided with indicating spots 17 to denote the proper locations for the ten-pins 18. 7

Adjacent the rear end of the alley and ex-- tending transversely thereof is a ball rebounding element against which the ball B is projected to cause it to rebound against the pins 18. The provision of a ball rebounding element suitable for this purpose presents a special problem since'it is important that it be of a nature on-the one hand to require some little dexterity on the part of the player to attain proficiency,

while on the other hand it should be of a 1 against will insure a rebound in a definite, predetermined direction. -Thus with a re silient cushion or edge with a solid backing extending straight across the end of the alley, the game would not be suiliciently difficult to be interesting, since if a ball be sent down the alley striking the cushion squarely, it would return on. the same line that it travcrsedin going to the cushion. On the other hand a rebounding device such as a rubber band held taut across the alley is so uncertain in its rebounding action on the ball that the use thereof does not to any considerable extent test the skill of the player and makes the game mostly one of chance, such rubber or elastic band having a reactive efiect on the ball that varies largely as to direction according to the speed of the projected ball, the degree of tautness of the band, the location on the band impinged by ball thereagainst the rebounding device that is obtainable.

I have found that for the fulfilling these requirements a rebounding device equipped with a resilient edge extending in a gradual curve across the, board, is suitable, this resilient edgehaving a firm or relatively rigid back throughout its extent adapted to prevent any substantial distortion or bodily yield thereof. For this purpose I may provide as shown, a backing block or strip 19,

which may be of wood extending across the rear end of the alley between the post 16, and suitably secured in place as by pins 20. The front edge of this block is concaved on a curve which preferably has as its radius approximately the distance therefrom tothe central portion of the spot space 17 A resilient rebounding edge 21, preferably of rubber is set into this concaved base, which has an inset seat for this purpose as indicated at 22. The ball B which may be of polished steel or other relatively heavy material may be projected against. this reboundmg device in any suitable manner, but for this purpose I preferably provide a guiding device 23 consisting of two generally parallel metal rods 24 fixed to a handle '25, these rods being spaced apart properly to form a runway for the ball; this guiding device be- 7 ing used as seen in Fig. 1, by holding the same at a proper incline for the ball to gain momentum, and just back of the pins 18.

It will be noted that by providing the ball rebounding edge or surface in the form of a segment of a circle or like concave outline,

all the pins except the one head pin opposite @onlea of this patent may be obtained for I am aware that the invention may be em bodied in other specific forms without departin from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered as illustrative and'not restrictive, referring to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. rrpparatu's of the kind described comprising a base presenting a relatively long and narrow plane alley surface, having a pit atthe forward end and gutters along the sides thereof, and a ball rebounding element extending transversely of said alley at the rear end thereof, said element presentmg a resilient front edge with a relatively rigid backing, said edge being formed on an arc of relatively small curvature.

the sides thereof, and a ball rebounding element extending transversely of said alley at the rear end thereof, said element presenting a resilient front edge with a relatively rigid backing, said edge being formed on an arc with a radius extending substantially to the other end of the alley surface.

3. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a base having a top presenting a relatively long and plane alley surface with a pit at its forward end and gutters along the sides thereof, the front portion of said alley surface having indicia to denote locations for ten-pins, and a ball rebounding member extending across the rear of said alley surface, said member presenting a resilient front edge formed and held in an arc whose radius extends approximately to a central portion of said ten-pin indicia.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES W. COFFIN.

five cents, each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

